System and Method for Time Delayed Playback

ABSTRACT

A system and method that time delays a playback from a first feed at a first time to a second feed at a second time. The method includes recording the first feed that is received at the first time to be used at least partially as a playback of the second feed at the second time. The second time has a predetermined delay relative to the first time. The method includes determining whether the first feed has a discrepancy in the actual playback from a desired playback. The discrepancy is at a known time and lasting a known time amount. The method includes transmitting the playback to the second feed after the predetermined delay. A fix is aired instead of the playback for the known time amount corresponding to the discrepancy.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A program may be broadcast to viewers in a variety of different manners.For example, a television network may broadcast different programsthroughout a broadcast day. In other examples, a web site, a mobilevideo provider, etc. may also broadcast programs at select times duringa day. With particular regard to television programs, the televisionnetwork may be a national network or may be affiliated with othertelevision networks such that the programs may be aired in differentareas, most particularly in areas having different time zones. Dependingon a variety of reasons such as the type of program, it may be aired ina variety of different ways. For example, the programs may include liveevents such as a sporting event or a concert. When a live event isaired, it may be aired concurrently throughout the different time zones.Thus, the live event may be aired in the Eastern time zone at 8:00 pmand in the Pacific time zone at the corresponding 5:00 pm. In anotherexample, the programs may include pre-recorded shows such as realityshows, game shows or scripted shows (e.g., dramas, sitcoms, etc.). Whena pre-recorded show is aired, it may be aired at common times in thedifferent time zones. Thus, the pre-recorded show may be aired in theEastern time zone at 8:00 pm and in the Pacific time zone at 8:00 pm aswell (which corresponds to 11:00 pm in the Eastern time zone).

A time delayed playback (TDP) system is configured for airing a showwith at least some time delay. For example, in the above describedlatter scenario, the TDP system may air a show at a first time in afirst time zone and a subsequent airing at a second time in a secondtime zone. Most notably, in the United States, the TDP system mayreceive a feed for an Eastern time zone at the time the feed is aired inthe Eastern time zone, store the feed, and subsequently transmit therecorded feed for playback in the Pacific time zone. In another example,in the above described prior scenario, a live feed may be delayed for atleast one second for quality control purposes such as a profanity delay.Thus, the live feed may also be “pre-recorded” and played at thepredetermined time delay period. However, the TDP system may succumb toa variety of issues since the integrity of the recorded feed determinesthe integrity of the playback feed. In a first example, there may be adiscrepancy or failure in the feed being recorded such as a commercialfailing to play out. In a second example, there may be a discrepancy inthe recording device itself that causes at least some of the feed datato be missing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary time delayed playback system according to theexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a timeline of a recorded feed that includes identifiederrors.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary play out order for a playback feed based onthe recorded feed of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method for addressing issues in a playbackfeed according to the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary method for addressing issues in a recordedplayback according to the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows an example of recorded chunks that are recorded by TDP timedelayed playback devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference tothe following description and the related appended drawings, whereinlike elements are provided with the same reference numerals. Theexemplary embodiments are related to a system and method for a timedelayed playback (TDP) in which a feed that is aired at a first time isrecorded for a subsequent playback at a second time. Specifically, theexemplary embodiments provide a TDP system that addresses issues raisedfrom using a recorded feed as a basis for a playback feed that isdelayed by some amount of time. For example, the TDP system of theexemplary embodiments may provide a more efficient fix for issuesoccurring in the recording. In another example, the TDP system of theexemplary embodiments may provide a more useful fix for issues occurringin the devices themselves.

The exemplary embodiments relate to any delayed playback based upon someamount of time. For illustrative purposes, the exemplary embodimentsherein are described related particularly to a time zone delay. However,the use of the time zone delay is only exemplary. Those skilled in theart will understand that the TDP system of the exemplary embodiments maybe applied to any time delayed playback. For example, a televisionnetwork may have a recorded feed of a live event with at least a onesecond delay for a playback feed, the time delay being used to censorany profanity such that the playback feed includes the censoredportions. In another example, a web site may have a recorded feed of anevent with at least some time delay for a playback feed, the time delaybeing used for profanity issues, for formatting issues (e.g., from therecorded feed format to the playback feed format), etc.

The world has a plurality of time zones. Specifically, the contiguousUnited States has four time zones geographically adjacent one anotherincluding (from east to west) an Eastern time zone, a Central Time Zone,a Mountain Time Zone, and a Pacific Time Zone. Generally, the Easterntime zone is one hour ahead of the Central time zone; the Central timezone is one hour ahead of the Mountain time zone; and the Mountain timezone is one hour ahead of the Pacific Time Zone. Thus, the Eastern timezone is three hours ahead of the Pacific time zone. In view of thesetime zones, nationwide broadcast television networks and cable/satellitechannels (collectively referred to herein as “broadcasters”) generallybroadcast a first east coast feed that is aired simultaneously in theEastern and Central time zones and a second west coast feed that isaired in the Pacific time zone. The broadcasters may utilize a TDPsystem that is configured for the west coast feed to air a recordedplayback feed. Specifically, the TDP system records the east coast feedsuch that the west coast feed is a tape-delayed playback by three hours.This may be used so that a broadcast that airs, for example, at 8:00p.m. in the Eastern time zone is also shown locally at 8:00 p.m. in thePacific time zone.

The following description relates to using the TDP system to record aneast coast feed and playing back the recorded east coast feed as a westcoast feed. However, as described above, it should again be noted thatthose skilled in the art will understand that the exemplary embodimentsmay be used for other time shifts such as profanity screening delays. Inanother example, the broadcasters may broadcast programs in the Mountaintime zone. In a first example, the broadcasters may broadcast a thirdfeed specifically for the Mountain time zone. Specifically, thebroadcasters may again utilize a recorded playback from the TDP system.In this example, the Mountain time zone playback is delayed by two hoursfrom the Eastern time zone. In a second example, the broadcasters mayuse the west coast feed for the Pacific time zone as well as for theMountain time zone. As will be described in further detail below, theexemplary embodiments may be used in any of these scenarios. Moregenerally, the exemplary TDP system may be used for any scenario inwhich the broadcaster desires to transmit a previously recordedbroadcast. Thus, it should be understood that the use of an east coastfeed and a west coast feed is only exemplary. More generally, the TDPsystem may be used for other time zones outside the United States suchas EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) as well as Asia.

When functioning as intended with the east coast feed not including anyissues, the TDP system may record the east coast feed exactly as airedand use the recording as the playback for the west coast feed. Thoseskilled in the art will understand that this ideal situation does notalways occur and that various issues may arise in the feed that isrecorded as well as in the components of the TDP system. Specifically,the TDP system according to the exemplary embodiments is configured toaddress issues when the east coast feed requires a fix prior toutilizing a playback for the west coast feed and issues when a componentin the TDP system has a problem that may prevent a complete recording totake place. More generally, the TDP system of the exemplary embodimentsis configured to address issues from a recorded feed at a first timeused for a playback feed at a second time subsequent to the first time.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary TDP system 100 according to the exemplaryembodiments. As described above, when no issues arise in the feed beingrecorded or in the components being used, the TDP system 100 may receivean east coast feed to be recorded (i.e., a recorded feed) for asubsequent playback as the west coast feed (i.e., a playback feed).Thus, the TDP system 100 may include a feed source 105, a TDP device110, and a feed output 145.

Initially, it should be noted that the TDP system 100 being representedas a plurality of different devices interconnected among each other isonly exemplary. Those skilled in the art will understand that the TDPsystem 100 may also be represented as a single device that is capable ofperforming the functionalities as described herein for all the differentcomponents.

The feed source 105 may be any broadcasting device that transmits aprogram for the east coast feed. For example, the feed source 105 may beoperated by a nationwide network that pre-records original programming.Typically, a broadcaster operates the feed source 105 and transmits thefeed to providers (e.g., cable operators, satellite operators, etc.)that then re-transmit the feed to their customers (e.g., viewers). Inthis example, the transmission to the providers is shown as the feedoutput 145. The feed output 145 may be, for example, a satellitetransmitter that transmits the feed, a device that transmits the feedvia cables, etc. In this example, the feed output 145 receives thecontent to be transmitted from the TDP device 110 or the secondary TDPdevice 125 via a delay/playlist switcher (hereinafter “delay switcher”)120, 135, respectively. However, it should be noted that the feed source105 could directly feed the feed output 145 and the TDP arrangementcould be set up in parallel (e.g., the output of the feed source 105could be split to directly feed each of the feed output 145, TDP device110 and secondary TDP device 125).

In the arrangement of FIG. 1, the feed source 105 output (e.g., the eastcoast feed) is also received by the TDP device 110 and the secondary TDPdevice 125. Each of these devices 110 and 125 record the feed source 105output. That is, the TDP devices 110, 125 generate a recorded feed fromthe feed source 105. The reasons for having two TDP devices 110 and 125will be described in greater detail below, but it may be generallydescribed as relating to errors that occur within the TDP devices,rather than errors that occur within the feed. Subsequently, when it istime to provide the west coast feed, one of the TDP devices 110 or 125provide the recorded east coast feed to the feed output 145 that isprovided to the providers. That is, the TDP devices 110, 125 utilize therecorded feed to provide the playback feed for the feed output 145. Asdescribed above, if there are no issues with the east coast feed (e.g.,the program plays out with no stops or freezes, all commercials areaired at the correct time within the program, etc.), then the TDPdevices 110 or 125 provide the recorded east coast feed to the feedoutput 145 as the west coast feed, which is then provided to theproviders.

Prior to describing further operation of the TDP system 100 overall, theTDP device 110 will be described. It should also be noted that thesecondary TDP device 125 may include similar components andfunctionality. The TDP device 110 may be embodied in a variety ofmanners. For example, the TDP device 110 may be any electronic deviceconfigured to perform the functionalities described herein. The TDPdevice 110 may include hardware and/or software components. For example,the TDP device 110 may include a processor, a memory arrangement, adisplay device, input/output (I/O) devices, etc.

The processor may be configured to execute a plurality of applicationscorresponding to the described functionalities. It should be noted thatthe applications may be embodied as executable programs that areexecuted by the processor and cause the processor to perform thefunctionalities. However, this is only exemplary and the functionalitiesassociated with the applications may also be represented as separateincorporated components of the TDP device 110 (e.g., an integratedcircuit with or without firmware), may be a modular component coupled tothe TDP device 110 (e.g., a hardware or software plug-in), or acombination thereof.

The memory arrangement may be a hardware component configured to storedata related to operations performed by the TDP device 110. For example,a memory device (e.g., hard drive, tape drive, flash memory, etc.)included in the TDP device 110 or to which the TDP device has access,may store the feed as a recording for the playback. The display devicemay be a hardware component configured to show information or interfacesto a user while the I/O devices may be hardware and/or softwarecomponents configured to receive inputs from a user and outputcorresponding data. Specifically, the display device and the I/O devicesmay enable the user to provide corresponding information for certainfunctionalities. The I/O devices may also enable the TDP device 110 toreceive the feed from the feed source 105 and transmit the playback tothe feed output 115.

The TDP system 100 may further include a playlist source device 115 andthe delay switcher 120. As will be described in greater detail below,the feed that is recorded (e.g., the east coast feed) may include errorsor issues. According to the exemplary embodiments, the playlist sourcedevice 115 may be configured to provide a fix for each error or issuedetermined in the recorded feed received from the feed source 105. Theplaylist source device 115 may include similar components as weredescribed above for the TDP device 110.

The issues or errors that may arise from the feed source 105 and therecorded feed received from the feed source 105 may include manydifferent kinds of discrepancies from an ideal desired playback. Oneparticular issue that broadcasters wish to address prior to airing therecorded playback in the west coast feed is when the east coast feed hasa commercial or advertisement failing to play out. Those skilled in theart will understand that commercials that are played during a broadcastprovide revenue for each time the commercial is played out. Thus, when acommercial fails to play out, the broadcaster may not receive theexpected revenue from the commercial play out. Thus, if a commercialfails to play out in the east coast feed, the commercial will again failto play out on the west coast feed if no corrective action is taken.This is clearly not desirable as all the revenue for both the east coastfeed and west coast feed will be foregone.

Therefore, a broadcaster wishes to fix the west coast feed so that thecommercial plays out to preserve some of the attached revenue gainedfrom playing the commercial. The exemplary embodiments provide anefficient fix mechanism to address this type of issue. In the examplesprovided, it will be considered that the identified issue is thenon-playout of a commercial. However, those skilled in the art willunderstand that other issues and errors (e.g., an audiovisual problem, acontent problem, etc. related to commercials, promos, bumpers,programming segments, etc.) in the feed (e.g., constrained to a singlepiece of content or spanning multiple minutes/hours of programming) mayalso be identified and corrected in accordance with the examplesprovided herein.

Initially, the error in the east coast feed needs to be identified. Onemanner of identifying errors is a manual identification by a user (e.g.,an employee of the broadcaster may be tasked with monitoring one or morefeeds to identify errors). This employee may record the error and whenthe error in the feed occurs. For example, the current program that isbeing aired in the east coast may run from 8:00-9:00 pm. The commercialthat did not air properly, may be a 60 second commercial that wasscheduled to air from 8:21-8:22. The employee may record thisinformation for use in fixing the west coast feed.

There may also be automatic approaches of determining that an error hasoccurred. For example, the TDP device 110, the playlist source device115 or some other device, may monitor the feed and automaticallyidentify errors or issues within the feed. In one example, it may beautomatically determined that there is a predetermined number ofconsecutive frames that indicate a downtime in which nothing is beingshown or an error has occurred. For example, the frames may indicate ablack screen or a constant image. The predetermined number ofconsecutive frames may be a threshold value in which the black screen orconstant image is being shown beyond an acceptable time limit and thismay be identified as an error. Similar to the manually identified error,the error and the time of occurrence may be recorded. If the playlistsource device 115 is configured for this functionality, the playlistsource device 115 may also receive the recorded feed from the feedsource 105 or the TDP device 110.

According to the exemplary embodiments, upon detection of an issue inthe feed received from the feed source 105, the playlist source device115 may receive an input for a fix to the discrepancy. In a first mannerof providing the input for the fix, a user may receive an indication ofthe issue of the failed commercial (e.g., from an automaticdetermination by the system 100 or from a manual determination) anddetermine that the time slot in the recorded feed that the commercialfailed is to be replaced with a full run of the commercial. To continuewith the example started above, the commercial may have been scheduledto run for 60 seconds in the east coast feed but due to an issue, thecommercial may not have played out properly.

In one example, the user may enter a command to the playlist sourcedevice 115 to play the commercial on the west coast feed at thecorresponding time. In this way, the west coast feed may succeed inplaying out the commercial. Therefore, the broadcaster may receive therevenue at least for the run in the west coast feed.

In a second example, the playlist source device 115 may automaticallydetermine the fix. Specifically, the playlist source device 115 may bepre-programmed to determine the fix based upon the circumstancessurrounding the issue. Initially, the pre-recorded program that is airedin the east coast feed may have associated information (e.g., metadata).This associated information may include, for example, an identificationof the pre-recorded program that is airing, the times of the commercialbreaks, an identification of the commercials that are scheduled in eachof the breaks, etc. The playlist source device 115 may be provided withthis associated information. Using the above scenario of the 60 secondcommercial failing to play out, the playlist source device 115 mayreceive the indication of the error and the time at which the erroroccurred, e.g., incorrect playout from 8:21-8:22. After receiving theidentification of the issue, the playlist source device 115 maydetermine the fix. For example, based upon the associated information,the playlist source device 115 may identify which commercial failed toplay out. The playlist source device 115 may retrieve this commercialfrom a playlist database (not shown) and insert the commercial at thecorrect location. An exemplary manner of inserting the commercial intothe west coast feed will be described in detail below. In this manner,the fix to the west coast feed may be applied.

As described above, the commercial itself may be required to beavailable to the playlist source device 115. The playlist database mayinclude a copy of each commercial based upon what is included in theassociated information. Thus, the playlist source device 115 mayretrieve the data for the failed commercial from the playlist database.The playlist database may also store the associated information forreference by the playlist source device 115. The playlist database mayrepresent any storage device that stores the information to be used bythe playlist source device 115. In this manner, the playlist databasemay generally represent any source in which the information may beretrieved.

It should be noted that the above description relating to fixing acommercial failure is only exemplary. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the fix may also be for the program itself or any otherinterstitial content. For example, due to an unforeseen error, theprogram in the east coast feed may have failed. Although fixed at alater time for the east coast feed using manners known in the art, therecorded playback feed by the TDP device 110 may include a gap in whichthe program is not played as intended. The playlist source device 115may also provide a fix in which the program may be available and a fixis provided such that the west coast feed plays the program as intendedwithout the gap that existed in the east coast feed.

The mechanism for which the fix is applied to the west coast feedprovided to the feed output 145 may be performed in a variety ofmanners. The following example is used to illustrate how the fixes tothe west coast feed may be applied. FIG. 2 illustrates a timeline 200 ofa recording of an east coast feed (i.e., a recorded feed) that includesidentified errors. The timeline 200 shows that the east coast feed wasrecorded from 8:00 pm-9:00 pm. During the recording, two errors 210 and220 were identified. Exemplary manners of identifying the errors 210 and220 were described above. In this example, it may be considered thaterror 210 occurred from 8:20-8:21 pm and error 220 occurred from8:42-8:44 pm in the recording of the east coast feed. Thus, this meansthat conceptually, the portions of the east coast feed that areacceptable may be labeled as recorded block 230 (8:00-8:20), recordedblock 240 (8:21-8:42) and recorded block 250 (8:44-9:00). To correct thewest coast feed, the portions of the recording corresponding to theerrors 210 and 220 are to be replaced with the correct feed. In thisexample, it may also be considered that the errors have been identifiedas follows: error 210 corresponds to a missing commercial 215; and error220 corresponds to a missing commercial 223 and missing content 227.

Using this identified error information, the playlist source device 115may build a correction playlist 260. Exemplary manners of building thecorrection playlist 260 have been described above. In this example, thecorrection playlist 260 includes a correction block 263 and a correctionblock 267. The correction block 263 includes the commercial 215 that didnot play out correctly and is identified as error 210. The correctionblock 267 includes the commercial 223 and the content 227 that did notplay out correctly and were identified as error 220. It should be notedthat content 227 refers to a portion of the pre-recorded program thatdid not play out correctly in the east coast feed. It should also benoted that the example of error 220 shows an example of two differenttypes of content (commercial and pre-recorded show) that are contiguousand did not play out correctly. Thus, the correction block 267 for theerror 220 includes multiple items in the correction playlist 260. Itshould further be noted that the use of two separate correction blocks263, 267 is only exemplary. At an operator's discretion or othercriteria, the corrections may be consolidated into a single correctionblock spanning a time from a start time of the first error to an endtime of the last error. In this example, the single correction block mayspan from 8:20-8:44 pm. This single correction block may also includethe commercial 215, the recorded block 240, the commercial 223, and thecontent 227.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary play out order 300 for the west coast feedbased on the recorded east coast feed of FIG. 2. The exemplary play outorder 300 will be described with reference to the TDP system 100 of FIG.1 and the exemplary recording of the east coast feed of FIG. 2. When itis time to play out the west coast feed (i.e., the playback feed), oneof the TDP devices 110 or 125 will start outputting the recorded eastcoast feed to the feed output 145 (throughout the remainder of thisexample, it will be assumed that the TDP device 110 is the deviceoutputting the recorded feed). Thus, the TDP device 110 outputs recordedblock 230 to the feed output 145 as shown in FIG. 3. This outputtingcontinues until error 210 is encountered. At that time, the playlistsource device 115 outputs the correction block 263 (e.g., commercial215) to the feed output 145 as also shown in FIG. 3.

Thus, it may be considered that the output of the playlist source device115 overrides the output of the TDP device 110. This override may beaccomplished in a variety of manners. For example, the delay switcher120 that receives the outputs of the TDP device 110 and the playlistsource device 115 may include logic that indicates that the TDP device110 recording is to be interrupted whenever there is content receivedfrom the playlist source device 115. This logic may also be incorporatedinto the feed output 145. However, it should again be noted that the TDPdevice 110, the playlist source device 115, and the delay switcher 120being separate components is only exemplary. In other embodiments, thesecomponents may be incorporated into a single device. It should also benoted that the delay switcher 135 may perform substantially similarfunctionalities with regard to the secondary TDP device 125 and thesecondary playlist source device 130.

In another example, the playlist source device 115 may output thecorrection block based on the information associated with the error. Forexample, the error 210 is identified as occurring from 8:20-8:21 pm. Atthis time during the west coast feed, the playlist source device 115 maybegin playing the correction block 263 and the TDP device 110 may besignaled to stop playing out during this time. In a further example, theplaylist source device 115 may monitor the west coast feed and when anerror is identified (e.g., too many black frames), the playlist sourcedevice 115 may begin playing out the next available correction block(e.g., correction block 263).

When the play out of the correction block 263 is completed, the outputof the TDP device 110 may again be the output corresponding to the westcoast feed. In this example, the TDP device 110 will output recordedblock 240 as shown in FIG. 3. Again, during the time of the play out ofcorrection block 263, the TDP device 110 may continue to output theerror portion of the recording, but it is ignored by the delay switcher120, or the TDP device 110 output may be turned off and resumed when thecorrection block 263 is played out.

The play out order 300 of FIG. 3 continues until the error 220 isencountered. At this point, the playlist source device 115 will outputthe correction block 267 that includes both the commercial 223 and theportion of the content 227 that did not play out correctly in the eastcoast feed. The playlist source device 115 will first play out thecommercial 223. Then, instead of the west coast feed reverting back tothe TDP device 110 recording, the playlist source device 120 will alsoplay out the content 227. Thus, when an individual correction blockbegins being played out, all the items identified in that correctionblock (e.g., commercial 223, content 227) will play out prior toreverting to the recording of the TDP device.

When the correction block 267 is completely played out, the west coastfeed as shown in the play out order 300 will revert to the TDP device110 outputting block 250. When the block 250 is completed, the westcoast feed for the 8:00 pm-9:00 pm time frame is complete and correctbecause the errors 210 and 220 that occurred in the east coast feed havebeen corrected in the west coast feed.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 400 for addressing issues in a recordedfeed according to the exemplary embodiments. Specifically, the method400 relates to the above-described feature of the TDP system 100 inwhich the playlist source device 115 provides a fix for issues relatedto the recorded feed from the feed source 105. The method 400 will bedescribed with regard to the TDP system 100 of FIG. 1. Morespecifically, the method 400 will be described wherein the TDP system100 performs automatic functionalities as described above.

In step 405, the associated information for the east coast feed may bestored such that the devices (e.g., TDP device 110, playlist sourcedevice 115) may have access to the associated information. Theassociated information may be stored in the playlist database or othersuitable storage location/device. As described above, the associatedinformation may include scheduling of how a program is aired and whencommercial breaks are aired including which commercials are to be airedat the respective commercial breaks and in which order (e.g., metadata).

In step 410, the TDP device 110 receives the feed from the feed source105 (e.g., the east coast feed). In step 415, the TDP device 110 recordsand stores the feed from the feed source 105 as a recorded feed. As theTDP device 110 receives and records the feed, in step 420, it isdetermined if there are any issues with the feed. As described above,this determination may be made by the TDP device 110, the playlistsource device 115 or any other device and/or component within the TDPsystem 100. As part of this determination, any errors may be recorded.

In step 425, it is determined whether any issues were identified in step420. If no issues were determined, the method 400 continues to step 430where the recorded feed is transmitted to the feed output 145 as thedelayed playback feed. As indicated above, with no issues, the westcoast feed will be an exact copy of the recorded east coast feed.

Returning to step 425, if it is determined that there is an issue withthe recorded feed, the method 400 continues to step 435. In step 435, afix for the determined issue or discrepancy is determined. As describedabove, the fix may be determined based upon pre-programmed instructionssuch as replacing the failed commercial with a replacement of the samecommercial to be played in its entirety by retrieving this data from theplaylist database. The identification of the commercial may bedetermined based upon the associated information that was stored in step405. The result of the step 435 may be the correction blocks 263 and 267described with reference to FIG. 2. In step 440, the recorded feed isupdated to include the fixes and then the updated feed is transmitted asthe west coast feed.

Returning to FIG. 1, the TDP system 100 is shown to further include asecondary TDP device 125. As discussed above, the exemplary embodimentsmay also address other issues such as those involving a failure of thecomponents of the TDP system 100, particularly the TDP device 110. Thus,the TDP system 100 via the secondary TDP device 125 may be configured toprovide a backup unit that runs in parallel with the TDP device 110 in aredundant fashion. Specifically, the parallel mechanism may relate tothe recording phase to address an issue for the playback phase.

The exemplary embodiments provide the secondary TDP device 125 that isconfigured to be utilized as a backup for the TDP device 110.Furthermore, the TDP device 110 and the secondary TDP device 125 areconfigured to record and save the content from the feed source 105 in amanner that minimizes an amount of time that the TDP device 110 (i.e.,primary device) is not being utilized because of an error with the TDPdevice 110 and to also maximize an amount of time that the secondary TDPdevice 125 is available for use as a backup.

According to the exemplary embodiments, the TDP device 110 and thesecondary TDP device 125 may be configured to receive the feed from thefeed source 105. More specifically, the TDP device 110 and the secondaryTDP device 125 may receive the east coast feed. The TDP device 110 andthe secondary TDP device 125 may save the east coast feed in smallchunks that may be uniquely identified, for example, by a date and atime stamp. Thus, the east coast feed may be recorded by the devices110, 125 in sequential increments. For example, the increments may be 10second chunks.

By storing the recorded content in the sequential increments, thesecondary TDP device 125 may be configured to provide missed content tothe TDP device 110 if a failure were to occur, thereby allowing the TDPdevice 110 to be restored. For example, if the TDP device 110 fails andrequires a reboot during a recording of the east coast feed, the TDPdevice 110 may be down for a period of time (e.g., 6 minutes). The TDPdevice 110 may determine missing recording using a periodic process inwhich an evaluation application may periodically review a set ofrecorded chunks based on names given to each chunk to recognize anymissing recording chunks in the sequencing. For example, the chunks maybe named in a numerical order (e.g., 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, etc.), ina date/time order (e.g., year (YYYY), month (MM), day (DD), hour (HH),minute (MM), second (SS), frames (FF) such as 20140731111071000). If thechunks that are stored include 817, 818, 820, and 821, then theevaluation application may easily identify that chunk 819 is missing.

Following the completion of a recording of each new chunk and/or as partof a periodic consistency check, the TDP device 110 may verify that eachchunk is complete, undamaged, and/or not truncated. That is, the TDPdevice 110 may verify that the chunk is playable for the playback feed.Following this check, each chunk may be marked that the check has beenperformed thereon to avoid duplicate work on an ensuing scan althoughthe next scan may still perform a further check to determine anycorruption that may happen after recording such as due to a failinghardware component. If the chunk is missing or corrupt, thecorresponding chunk may be received from the secondary TDP device 125.An alert may be provided to the system or operator indicating themissing or damaged chunks such as in a sequential manner (e.g., coloredblocks with a first color indicating good chunks and a second colorindicating bad chunks). The alert may also include other forms such asemail, texts, etc. Thus, the entire east coast feed may be re-createdfrom the content that was recorded prior to the failure, the contentthat was received from the secondary TDP device 125, and the contentthat was recorded after the failure. In this manner, the TDP device 110may be placed back online in only the amount of time required for thisaction rather than based upon the amount of the time delay. For example,when only a reboot is needed, the TDP device 110 may be used again inonly 6 minutes when 3 hours would otherwise be required because of thediscontinuity of the recording.

It should be noted that the above process wherein the primary TDP device110 receives missing chunks from the secondary TDP device 125 is onlyexemplary. Those skilled in the art will understand that a substantiallysimilar process may occur wherein the secondary TDP device 125 receiveschunks from the primary TDP device 110. This may ensure, for example,that the secondary TDP device 125 has a complete and valid set ofrecorded chunks in case the primary TDP device 110 fails.

It should be also noted that the mechanism described above may beperformed in a different manner. For example, upon resuming operation,the TDP device 110 may run an evaluation application and determine aperiod of time that it has been down and an amount of time of the eastcoast feed that has not been recorded. Thus, the TDP device 110 mayrecognize that it has missed 6 minutes' worth of recording. The TDPdevice 110 may request or retrieve any missing chunks from the secondaryTDP device 125. Meanwhile, the TDP device 110 may also continuerecording the east coast feed. Accordingly, the entire east coast feedmay be re-created.

It should also be noted that when the chunks are named with a date/timenomenclature, a shared time source may be used as a basis such as anincoming video timecode or a system clock rather than using a localclock of the respective TDP devices 115, 125. Those skilled in the artwill understand that local clocks may drift (e.g., if not synchronizedto a shared time source) such that a local time of, for example,8:00:00.00 for the TDP device 115 may not exactly correspond to theexact same time on the TDP device 125.

It should be further noted the above description relates to contentbeing missed from recording. However, when the TDP device 110 fails,there may also be truncated, damaged or missing content as well. Thus,the exemplary embodiments may relate to the TDP device 110 receivingcorresponding content from the secondary TDP device 125 for any missed,truncated, and/or damaged content due to the failure of the TDP device110.

It should also be noted that the secondary TDP device 125 may provideother functionalities. Specifically, if the TDP device 110 were to failduring a playback for the west coast feed, the secondary TDP device 125may provide a backup and provide the playback for the west coast feed.Thus, the TDP system 100 of FIG. 1 also includes a connection to thefeed output 145. As noted above, the secondary TDP device 125 may alsoreceive any missing chunks from the primary TDP device 110. Thus, thesecondary TDP device 125 may have a complete set of chunks for thisfunctionality to be performed if necessary.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary method 500 for addressing issues in a recordedplayback according to the exemplary embodiments. Specifically, themethod 500 relates to the above-described feature of the TDP system 100in which the secondary TDP device 125 provides recorded content that ismissed from the TDP device 110 experiencing a failure. The method 500will be described with regard to the TDP system 100 of FIG. 1 and theexemplary storage chunks for a recorded feed as shown in FIG. 6. Itshould be noted that the one way operation of the TDP device 110 failingand the secondary TDP device 125 providing the missed chunks is onlyexemplary. The mechanism may also operate in a reverse operation. Inthis manner, the TDP system 100 may include a main/backup switcher(hereinafter “main switcher) 140 that may control an operation betweenthe TDP device 110 and the secondary TDP device 125 when the playbackfeed from the corresponding device is being utilized.

It should be noted that the TDP system 100 may include a fallbackoperation when the TDP device 110 and the secondary TDP device 125 bothfail simultaneously to record a specific chunk. That is, the fallbackoperation may relate to when all recording devices simultaneously fail.When such a scenario occurs, a selected image (e.g., a black screen, apredefined or pre-stored still image, a predefined or pre-stored videocontent) may be played for the duration of the missed recording orchunk(s).

In step 505, the TDP device 110 and the secondary TDP device 125 mayreceive the feed from the feed source 105. Furthermore, the TDP device110 and the secondary TDP device 125 may record the east coast feed inthe above described manner in which increments of predetermined size andlength are used as the basis of recording. In addition, each incrementmay be named with a date and time stamp (or any other manner of uniquelynaming and sequencing the chunks) for the ordering to be maintained. Itshould again be noted that the naming of the chunks may be against atiming reference that is shared between both the TDP device 110 and thesecondary TDP device 125.

FIG. 6 shows an example of recorded chunks 600 that are recorded by theTDP device 110 and recorded chunks 600′ that are recorded by thesecondary TDP device 125. In this example, it may be considered that thesecondary TDP device 125 recorded the entire feed without any errorsoccurring at the secondary TDP device 125, e.g., the chunks 610′-670′represent the entirety of the feed that was to be recorded. In contrast,TDP device 110 experienced some type of failure such that it missedrecording chunks after chunk 620 to chunk 660.

In step 510, it is determined whether there is a failure of the TDPdevice 110 or there are any missing or damaged chunks. For example, theTDP device 110 may have experienced an error (e.g., hardware and/orsoftware) that causes the TDP device 110 to fail. In another example, ahard drive or memory chip may fail and records or provides incorrectdata. If no such failure is detected during the time the feed isreceived, the TDP device 110 may continue the method 500 to step 515 inwhich the feed is transmitted as is recorded because it is a completerecording of the feed. More specifically, the TDP device 110 may be usedfor the playback in the west coast feed based upon the recording storedin the TDP device 110.

Returning to step 510, when the TDP device 110 experiences a failure,the TDP system 100 may continue the method 500 to step 520. As describedabove, in the example of FIG. 6, an error has occurred as evidenced bythe missing chunks between chunk 620 and chunk 660. In step 520, the TDPsystem 100 addresses the failure of the TDP device 110. The failures mayrange from a problem that is small to a problem that is significantlylarge. For example, the problem may be one that may be addressed simplyfrom a reboot. The TDP system 100 may include an automated component(not shown) that performs the reboot of the TDP device 110 and/or a usermay perform the reboot. As such, a relatively small amount of time maybe required to address the failure (e.g., 6 minutes). In anotherexample, the problem may be a fatal one in which the TDP device 110requires replacement. Thus, a user may replace a broken TDP device 110with a functioning TDP device 110. In such a problem, a relatively largeamount of time may be required to address the failure (e.g., more than 1hour).

Once the failure has been addressed, in step 525, the TDP device 110 maycontinue receiving the feed from the feed source and record/store thefeed. Referring to FIG. 6, the TDP device 110 recorded the chunks 610and 620 prior to the failure. The failure occurred with missing chunks.The failure was addressed in step 520 and the TDP device 110 continuedrecording in step 525, thereby recording chunks 660 and 670.

In step 530, the TDP device 110 may run its evaluation application todetermine the missing feed data during its downtime. For example, asequence numbering name may be given for each chunk and anidentification of any missing chunks within the sequence may beidentified. In another example, when a reboot is required to address thefailure, a time stamp of when the failure occurred and a time stamp ofwhen the TDP device 110 came back online may be used as a basis todetermine the missing feed data. In a further example, when the TDPdevice 110 is replaced, a user may enter a time stamp of when thefailure occurred such that the missing feed data may be determined. Itshould also be noted that the previously stored feed data may stillexist in a storage device such as a memory arrangement. In the currentexample, the TDP device 110 will determine that it is missing chunksbetween chunk 620 and chunk 660.

Once the missing feed data is determined, the TDP device 110, in step535, may request this missing feed data from the secondary TDP device125 that has also been receiving and storing the feed from the feedsource 105. As shown by the arrows in FIG. 6, the secondary TDP device130 will provide the TDP device with chunks 630′, 640′ and 650′ thatcorrespond to the missing chunks between chunk 620 and chunk 660. Instep 540, the TDP device 110 may combine the feed data. For example, thefeed data that was stored prior to the failure (e.g., chunks 610 and620), the missing feed data that was received from the secondary TDPdevice 130 (e.g., chunks 630′, 640′ and 650′), and the feed data thatwas stored after the failure (e.g., chunks 660 and 670) may be combinedinto the desired playback for the west coast feed. Thus, the TDP device110 may continue the method 500 from step 540 to step 515 to transmitthe combined feed.

It should be noted that step 540 of combining the feed may relate to adifferent manner of providing the playback feed to the feed output 145.For example, the playback feed may simply be what is recorded and aschedule that identifies the source from which the chunks of theplayback feed are to be received. In the above example, the schedule mayindicate that chunks 610, 620 are received from the TDP device 110,chunks 630′, 640′, 650′ are received from the secondary TDP device 125,and chunks 660, 670 are received from the TDP device 110. Such amanipulation mechanism may be performed by the main switcher 140.Therefore, an actual combining of the feeds to generate a singleresulting feed is only exemplary and the combining may refer tocombining the feed data to generate the one feed output 145.

The features of the TDP system 100 may also be used in conjunction.Specifically, the secondary playlist source device 130 may also be usedwith the secondary TDP device 125. As described above, the secondary TDPdevice 125 may be utilized when the TDP device 110 has a failure duringa playback for the west coast feed. Thus, if there is an issue thatarose in the east coast feed such as a commercial failing to play outfollowed by a subsequent failure in the TDP device 110, the secondaryTDP device 125 may provide the playback for the west coast feed andutilize any fix provided by the secondary playlist source device 130using the above described mechanisms.

The exemplary embodiments provide a system and method for a TDP systemthat receives and records a first feed at a first time such that aplayback may be used in a second feed at a second time. Thus, after adelay corresponding to the difference between the first and secondtimes, the recorded playback may be used. The system and method of theexemplary embodiments further provide mechanisms to address variousissues that arise from using the TDP system. In a first example, the TDPsystem of the exemplary embodiments include a playlist source devicethat may provide a fix for issues arising in the recorded feed such ascommercials failing to play out. Specifically, the fix such as areplacement commercial may overwrite the feed provided from the TDPdevice to a feed output. Thus, the commercial may play out successfullyin the second feed although failing in the first feed. In a secondexample, the TDP system of the exemplary embodiments includes asecondary TDP device that may provide a backup component in order formissing content that failed to record on the TDP device may be receivedfrom the secondary TDP device. In this manner, the TDP device may stillbe used for playback in the second feed despite having otherwise missedcontent from being recorded.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-describedexemplary embodiments may be implemented in any suitable software orhardware configuration or combination thereof. An exemplary hardwareplatform for implementing the exemplary embodiments may include, forexample, an Intel x86 based platform with compatible operating system, aMac platform and MAC OS, a mobile device having an operating system suchas iOS, Android, etc. In a further example, the exemplary embodiments ofthe above described method may be embodied as a program containing linesof code stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage mediumthat, when compiled, may be executed on a processor or microprocessor.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the present invention, without departingfrom the spirit or the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended thatthe present invention cover modifications and variations of thisinvention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims andtheir equivalent.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method, comprising: recording as a firstrecording, by a first time delayed playback (TDP) device, a first feedbroadcast at a first time to first viewers; receiving, by the first TDPdevice, a request for a fix corresponding to a discrepancy in a secondrecording of the first feed recorded by a second TDP device, the requestindicating a time and a duration of the discrepancy; generating, by thefirst TDP device, the fix based on the first recording; and sending, bythe first TDP device, the fix to the second TDP device, wherein the fixis configured to be inserted into the second recording at the timeidentified for the discrepancy and lasting for the duration identifiedfor the discrepancy to create a second feed to be broadcast at a secondtime later than the first time to second viewers different from thefirst viewers.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the request isreceived from a user.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the fix isgenerated based on input received from the user.
 24. The method of claim21, wherein the request is received from the second TDP device thatidentified the discrepancy.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein thefirst feed and the second feed are for a television program including aplurality of commercials.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein thediscrepancy includes a failure to play one of the commercials in adesired manner.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the fix includesplaying out an entirety of the failed commercial at the identified timelasting for the identified duration of the failed commercial.
 28. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the first recording is a backup playback forat least a portion of the second feed.
 29. The method of claim 21,wherein the first TDP device records the first feed in predeterminedtime length increments.
 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the firstfeed is an east coast feed, the second feed is a west coast feed, andthe predetermined delay is three hours.
 31. A time delayed playback(TDP) device, comprising: a memory; and a processor configured to recordas a first recording stored in the memory a first feed broadcast at afirst time to first viewers, the processor configured to generate a fixcorresponding to a discrepancy in a second recording of the first feedrecorded by a second TDP device, the request indicating a time and aduration of the discrepancy, wherein the fix is sent to the second TDPdevice, the fix being configured to be inserted into the secondrecording at the time identified for the discrepancy and lasting for theduration identified for the discrepancy to create a second feed to bebroadcast at a second time later than the first time to second viewersdifferent from the first viewers.
 32. The TDP device of claim 31,wherein the request is received from a user.
 33. The TDP device of claim32, wherein the fix is generated based on input received from the user.34. The TDP device of claim 31, wherein the request is received from thesecond TDP device that identified the discrepancy.
 35. The TDP device ofclaim 31, wherein the first feed and the second feed include atelevision program including a plurality of commercials.
 36. The TDPdevice of claim 35, wherein the discrepancy includes a failure to playone of the commercials in a desired manner.
 37. The TDP device of claim36, wherein the fix includes playing out an entirety of the failedcommercial at the identified time lasting for the identified duration.38. The TDP device of claim 31, wherein the first recording is a backupplayback for at least a portion of the second feed.
 39. The TDP deviceof claim 31, wherein the first TDP device records the first feed inpredetermined time length increments.
 40. A non-transitory computerreadable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon,wherein the program instructs a microprocessor to perform operationscomprising: recording as a first recording a first feed broadcast at afirst time to first viewers; receiving a request for a fix correspondingto a discrepancy in a second recording of the first feed recorded by asecond TDP device, the request indicating a time and a duration of thediscrepancy; generating the fix based on the first recording, andsending the fix to the second TDP device, wherein the fix is configuredto be inserted into the second recording at the time identified for thediscrepancy and lasting for the duration identified for the discrepancyto create a second feed to be broadcast at a second time later than thefirst time to second viewers different from the first viewers.